Computerisation of North Bengal State Library

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 5: North Bengal State Library is going to step in the computer age very soon. Following an ambitious computerisation drive a list of about 80,000 books of this library will be computerised. And, in addition, about 4,000 rare books copied in compact discs (CD) will be made available for all concerned. After launching of the proposed facility it will be easy for any book lover or researcher to find out a certain book from among the vast collection of books kept in this library. Moreover, anyone can see or read any book by accessing the network of this library through Internet.

 

The librarian of NBSL Mr Ranu Dey said they adopted a plan to computerise the list of books and functioning of the library within a year. Before launching of the facility the librarian and some other staff will have to undergo a special training in Kolkata, he said.

 

As the NBSL is a huge storehouse of books, magazines, periodicals, manuscripts, scriptures and rare scripts, it is hard for the readers or booklovers to find out a particular book. The card system is not sufficient in searching of books. Computerisation may ease the situation. After completion of the computerisation plan the readers will be able to get the right books of their choice. At the same time the readers or researchers of any country can be able to get any information of the books kept in this library through Internet.

 

The Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata, a Central government unit, already completed digitisation of about 4,000 rare books. Under this scheme the books were digitally included in CDs. The digitisation work had started in June 2005.

 

The librarian Mr Dey said he will go to avail training in Kolkata about functioning of the proposed computerised library. After him, three technical assistants will also be trained. He hoped that the computerisation system would be completed within a year.

 

It may be mentioned here that the then ruler of Cooch Behar, Maharaja Nripendra Narayan had established the library in 1870. Then it was known as Cooch Behar State Library. In 1969, the State Library and the Cooch Behar District Library were amalgamated as North Bengal State Library. []

 

Scribes demand case against tainted policemen

 

COOCH BEHAR, Oct. 5: The members of Cooch Behar Press Club requested state forest minister Mr Ananta Roy and food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary to take an initiative so that a specific case starts against the police personnel that were involved in the attack on two journalists at Cooch Behar yesterday. Cooch Behar SP Mr Anil Kumar already suspended two assistant sub-inspectors following a demand raised by the aggrieved media persons but no specific case started against them.

 

The FIR lodged at Kotowali police station by Mr Partha Chakraborty, one of the victims of police beating, was recorded as a mere general diary (GD). This cannot bring justice as promised by the district magistrate and the SP, Press Club sources said. They demanded specific legal action against the tainted policemen.

 

It may be recalled here that two pressmen attached with a Bengali TV channel – Mr Partha Chakraborty and Mr Ashok Dey - were assaulted brutally on yesterday morning when they were filming an act of extortion by some policemen from a vehicle driver for carrying patients to MJN Hospital allegedly without "ambulance licence". The injured two journalists are still under medical care in MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar. []